'Rahul Gandhi as prime ministerial candidate prerogative of Congress'

As far as who will be their leader, who will be their prime ministerial candidate, let them take a decision, CPI(M) Prakash Karat said.

A day after RJD chief Lalu Prasad batted for Rahul Gandhi as the Congress prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 elections, the CPI(M) on Saturday said that it was the prerogative of the Congress to project their leader.

"I don't know why this question is being asked to the CPI(M). As far as who will be their leader, who will be their prime ministerial candidate, let them take a decision," CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash told a press conference in Kolkata at the end of the party's central committee meeting.

"We can say something if necessary at an appropriate time about that. But it has nothing to do with us," he said.

"It is very clear as far as our party's position is concerned. It doesn't matter who will be the leader of the Congress party," Karat said.

Terming the Congress led UPA regime as the most corrupt government since independence, Karat slammed it for announcing deregulation of diesel and said it would have a disastrous effect on common man.

"This present government is not at all bothered about the common man. It is only bothered about the big corporate houses. This is the most corrupt government since independence," said Karat.

On Friday, batting for the Congress General Secretary, Prasad had asked "What is wrong with Rahul Gandhi, tell me?"